The Standing Vaccination Commission now recommends the Corona vaccination of twelve to 17-year-olds – what parents should now know.
Berlin – The Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) had not issued a general vaccination recommendation for children from the age of twelve in the past. The STIKO only recommended a Corona * vaccination to children and adolescents who are particularly at risk from certain previous illnesses. The reason for this: According to STIKO, there was not yet sufficient data from studies available. After countries like Israel, the USA * and Canada have already vaccinated children against the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, this data now exists.
After evaluating this data, the STIKO has now updated its recommendation. The experts come to the conclusion that, according to the current state of knowledge, the advantages of the corona vaccination outweigh the risk of very rare side effects. The vaccination should take place unchanged, only and only after medical advice.
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Christine Lambrecht: “Vaccination remains voluntary”
The vaccination of children and adolescents should not be made a prerequisite for social participation, according to the STIKO. The Federal Family Minister Christine Lambrecht said: “The vaccination remains voluntary and must not be made a requirement for school attendance”. Government spokesman Steffen Siebert had also previously spoken in this direction.
There would now be a clear, scientifically based orientation for parents and children. “The recommendation makes the decision easier for parents and children,” said Lambrecht.
Corona vaccination for children – what are the advantages?
According to the current state of research, children have a lower risk of developing Covid-19 after a corona vaccination, but this can also happen. Scientists from England and Scotland are primarily focusing on the new Delta variant in their research. According to initial studies, the results show that the number of children infected is actually increasing. However, the number of infected children who have to be treated in hospital remains low. This is the case in both England and Scotland.
Robin Kobbe, a specialist in pediatric medicine, told the Tagesschau that small children are often asymptomatic. Some had a runny nose, possibly a little fever, explained the doctor who works at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Adolescents, on the other hand, would come closer to the symptoms of young adults. Some of these are sore throats, fever and coughs. There could also be a loss of taste and smell. Serious illnesses are very rare, says Kobbe.
Long-term consequences of Covid 19 disease – how high is the risk?
The data situation in this regard is still limited. According to a UK survey, ten to 15% of children still show at least one symptom five weeks after an acute infection. A Canadian study assumes that six% of infected children develop signs of “long covid”, i.e. long-term effects. Data from 10,500 children who came to emergency clinics between March 2020 and June 2021 due to Covid-19 were evaluated. The data come from a total of 41 emergency clinics in ten countries: Canada, USA, Australia, Indonesia and three countries from South America and Europe were evaluated.
Respiratory problems were one of the most common symptoms; they occurred in two% of the cases. General physical complaints such as fatigue and fever also occurred in two% of the cases. Neurological complaints such as headaches, seizures and persistent loss of taste or smell occurred in only one% of the cases. Psychological complaints, such as the development of depression and anxiety, occurred in 1% of the cases. Persistent symptoms were more common in the age group 10 to 17 than in children under one year of age. There is also a study from Russia which comes to the same conclusion.
As with adults, vaccination in children could prevent severe Covid disease progression and long-term consequences.
Corona: PIMS syndrome – that’s behind it
The new syndrome is called “Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome” and is called “PIMS” for short. This is an inflammation that occurs in several organs. According to the current state of knowledge, this is triggered by an overreaction of the immune system. Around four to six weeks after an infection with Sars-CoV-2, severe symptoms of it can occur even in previously healthy children. “PIMS” is therefore a “long covid” symptom. High fever, inflammation of the mucous membranes, skin rash, swelling of the lymph nodes, reddened hands, and sometimes cardiovascular problems are all signs.
Since May 2020, the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI) has been recording PIMS syndrome cases – i.e. the serious disease progression in children and adolescents. The DGPI had reported 365 PIMS cases by July 25, 2021.
Corona vaccination reaction in children – what is known?
The manufacturers Biontech / Pfizer * and Moderna * state that the side effects in children are comparable to those in adults. This means that there may be pain, redness, swelling and redness at the injection site. Fatigue, headache and muscle pain, joint pain, fever, nausea, chills, malaise and swelling of the lymph nodes can also occur. These vaccination reactions usually only occur a few days after the corona vaccination.
Corona: Studies for children’s vaccines are ongoing
In March 2021, the corona vaccine * manufacturers Biontech / Pfizer began a study with children aged six months to eleven years. In the current phase 2, around 4500 young people are to be tested for the effectiveness and dosage of the vaccine. The first results could be available from September 2021.
The manufacturer Moderna has already started the phase 2/3 study at the same time. More than 6,700 children between the ages of six months and under twelve take part. Here, too, the effectiveness and dosage should be researched. There is no date for results here yet. With the same goal, manufacturer Sinovac started a study in China at the beginning of May. In phase 2, minors between the ages of three and 17 are to be examined. (Lukas Zigo) * fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
